PURPOSE: We evaluated the usefulness of quantitative spiral CT to predict postoperative lung function in patients undergoing pulmonary resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients in whom pneumonectomy or segmentectomy were performed underwent preoperative chest spiral CT and pulmonary function test(PFT). Six patients underwent postoperative follow-up PFT. Ten patients underwent preoperative radioisotope(RI) lung perfusion scan. Preoperative CT data were postprocessed with contiguous pixel method ranged from -9107HU to -500HU to quantify total functional lung volume(TFLV) and regional volume to be resected(RFLV). Postoperative lung function was predicted by following formula;Predicted postoperative PFT value=preoperative PFT x 1-RFLV/TFLV). CT predicted value was compared with postoperative measured PFT value and those value of RI perfusion scan. RESULTS: CT predicted values were very close to postoperative measured value and RI predicted value, and were correlated well with postoperative measured values (FVC: r=0.988, P<0.001 ;FEV1: r=0.994, P<0.001) and RI predicted values (FVC :r=0.976, P<0.001 ;FEVl: r=0.974, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Quantitative spiral CT was useful to predict postoperative lung function and could be an effective alternative to RI perfusion scan.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung* ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Perfusion ; Pneumonectomy ; Thorax ; Tomography, Spiral Computed*

PURPOSE: We applied spiral CT to evaluate the dynamic changes of regional ventilation of the lung in normal subjects and abnormal patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study includes normal subjects (n:5) and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n=4), small air-way disease (n=3), diffuse panbronchiolitis (n=4), and tracheobronchial tuberculosis (n=2). Time-continuous scan data at a fixed level during forced vital capacity maneuver (10--12 seconds) were obtained and images were reconstructed retrospectively by using 0.67 second scan data per image. The reconstructed images were displayed in a cine mode. Time-density curves were plotted and were correlated with clinical diagnosis. RESULTS: In normal subjects, mean attenuation difference between full inspiration and full expiration was 145. 8HU and mean time interval between 20% expiration and 80% expiration was 2.04 seconds. In chronic obstructive lung disease, mean attenuation difference between full inspiration and full expiration was 21.2HU and mean time interval between 20% expiration and 80% expiration was 3.63 seconds. In small air-way disease, mosaic-pattern hyperlucency and normal portion of lung showed mean attenuation differences between 20% expiration and 80% expiration to be 49.8HU and 167.0HU, respectively. In diffuse panbronchiolitis, centrilobular region and normal portion of lung showed mean attenuation differences between 20% expiration and 80% expiration to be 35.4HU and 79.3HU, respectively. CONCLUSION: Respiratory dynamic CT is an updated technique which enable imaging of the functional status of the lung parenchyma. It may be useful in differentiation and quantitation of variable obstructive lung diseases.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive ; Lung* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Tuberculosis ; Ventilation ; Vital Capacity

The radiologic and clinical findings of foreign bodies in the chest of children are well recognized. Foreign bodies in adults are infrequent, however, and the radiologic findings of these unusual circumstances have rarely been described. We classified various thoracic foreign bodies into three types according to their cause: Type I, Aspiration, Type II, Trauma or Accident; Type III, Iatrogenic. This pictorial essay will illustrate the radiologic findings and consequences of thoracic foreign bodies in adults, which have rarely been described in the radiologic literature. The clinical significance of thoracic foreign bodies will be also be discussed.
Accidents ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aspiration ; Esophagus/radiography ; Female ; Foreign Bodies/*etiology/*radiography ; Heart/radiography ; Human ; Iatrogenic Disease ; Male ; Middle Age ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; *Thorax ; Wounds and Injuries/complications ; Wounds, Gunshot/complications

Epidural anesthesia is widely practiced for lower abdominal operation and especially for delivery in many hospitals and complications are minimal compared with spinal anesthesia. Rarely these complications are extremely serious like hemiplegia which may not recover even though laminectomy and decompression of spinal cord are performed. This may be followed by epidural hematoma and abscess. Some authors have recommended that epidural anesthesia not be used for patients with blood dyscrasia or under treatment with anticoagulant, In an example a 53 year old man with a gallbladder disorder developed paraplegia after continuous epidural anesthesia. Thereafter total laminectomy (T1~L4) with decompression was done within 24 hours. The operation was successful and he recovered satisfactory without any sequelae.
Abscess ; Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Decompression ; Gallbladder ; Hematoma* ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Middle Aged ; Paraplegia ; Spinal Cord

This study was conducted to find out an appropriate means for preventing the juvenile delinquency (JD), which is supposed to be greatly realted to family environment. The data were collected through a questionnaire survey with a means of writing by themself, to 257 middle and high school students and 309 juvenile delinquents who were in confinement. The questionnaire was consisted of 27 items of juvenile delinquencies, 15 questions about personal environment in their period of childhood, 36 questions on their home atmosphere, 25 items with regard to their parental behavior to their children in the rearing of them. The extent of delinquency was calculated by summing the numbers of experienced delinquencies of the listed items. The study subjects were divided into two groups; student group (SG) and juvenile delinquent group (JDG) and the collected data were analyzed with the extent of delinquency in each group by SPSS/PC+statistical package. The extent of JD was increased as the study subjects grew older, defective families were more common, total family income was more poor, parents' educational level was lower, personal expenses were higher and the conflicts between parents were more high in JDG as compared with of SG. The differences were statistically significant. As long as the extent of delinquency is concerned, delimquent points of JDG were significantly higher as compared with that of SG in all items except one item, below the primary school item in fathers' educational level. (In order to prevent JD in our country, it is recommended that educational level and the living standared of the lower class people should be raised, the sound families which do have less conflictsshould be established as much as possible, the present educational system which is making much conflicts between parents and their offsprings should be changed so that their given temperament would be brought up to the highest level, defective families should be reduced as much as possible and adults should not do actions that are considered not to be done by youngsters and must set a good example.)
Adult ; Atmosphere ; Child ; Humans ; Juvenile Delinquency* ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Temperament ; Writing

The fungus aspergillus can cause a variety of pulmonary disorders. Aspergilloma is a noninvasive aspergillus colonization of virtually any type of preexisting pulmonary cavity or Cystic space. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is serious, usually fatal infection in patients being treated with immunosuppressants or who have chronic debilitating disease. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is charaterized clinically by asthma, blood and sputum eosinophilia and positive immunologic reaction to aspergillus antigen. Awareness of the radio-graphic and CT findings of pulmonary aspergillosis is important in making the diagnosis of aspergillus-caused pulmonary disorders. In this pictorial essay, we illustrated various radiological findings of pulmonary aspergillosis focused on CT findings correlated with gross pathologic specimens.
Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary ; Aspergillus ; Asthma ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophilia ; Fungi ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis ; Pulmonary Aspergillosis* ; Sputum

The fungus aspergillus can cause a variety of pulmonary disorders. Aspergilloma is a noninvasive aspergillus colonization of virtually any type of preexisting pulmonary cavity or Cystic space. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is serious, usually fatal infection in patients being treated with immunosuppressants or who have chronic debilitating disease. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is charaterized clinically by asthma, blood and sputum eosinophilia and positive immunologic reaction to aspergillus antigen. Awareness of the radio-graphic and CT findings of pulmonary aspergillosis is important in making the diagnosis of aspergillus-caused pulmonary disorders. In this pictorial essay, we illustrated various radiological findings of pulmonary aspergillosis focused on CT findings correlated with gross pathologic specimens.
Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary ; Aspergillus ; Asthma ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophilia ; Fungi ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis ; Pulmonary Aspergillosis* ; Sputum

PURPOSE: To determine the accuracy of automated computer aided volumetry for simulated small pulmonary nodules at computed tomography using various types of phantoms MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three sets of synthetic nodules (small, calcified and those adjacent to vessels) were studied. The volume of the nodules in each set was already known, and using multi-slice CT, volumetric data for each nodule was acquired from the three-dimensional reconstructed image. The volume was calculated by applying three different threshold values using Rapidia(R) software (3D-Med, Seoul, Korea). RESULTS: Relative errors in the measured volume of synthetic pulmonary nodules were 17.3, 2.9, and 11.5% at -200, -400, and -600 HU, respectively, and there was good correlation between true volume and measured volume at -400 HU (r=0.96, p<0.001). For calcified nodules, relative errors in measured volume were 10.9, 5.3, and 16.5% at -200, -400, and -600 HU, respectively, and there was good correlation between true volume and measured volume at -400 HU (r=1.03, p<0.001). In cases involving synthetic nodules adjacent to vessels, relative errors were 4.6, 16.3, and 31.2 % at -200, -400, and -600 HU, respectively. There was good correlation between true volume and measured volume at -200 HU (r=1.1, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Using computer-aided volumetry, the measured volumes of synthetic nodules correlated closely with their true volume. Measured volumes were the same at each threshold level, regardless of window setting.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Seoul

The objective of this paper is to introduce the schematic protocol of radiofrequency (RF) ablation for the treatment of varicose veins. Indication: anatomic or pathophysiologic indication includes venous diameter within 2-20 mm, reflux time > or =0.5 seconds and distance from the skin > or =5 mm or subfascial location. Access: it is recommended to access at or above the knee joint for great saphenous vein and above the mid-calf for small saphenous vein. Catheter placement: the catheter tip should be placed 2.0 cm inferior to the saphenofemoral or saphenopopliteal junction. Endovenous heat-induced thrombosis > or =class III should be treated with low-molecular weight heparin. Tumescent solution: the composition of solution can be variable (e.g., 2% lidocaine 20 mL+500 mL normal saline+bicarbonate 2.5 mL with/without epinephrine). Infiltration can be done from each direction. Ablation: two cycles' ablation for the first proximal segment of saphenous vein and the segment with the incompetent perforators is recommended. The other segments should be ablated one time. During RF energy delivery, it is recommended to apply external compression. Concomitant procedure: It is recommended to do simultaneously ambulatory phlebectomy. For sclerotherapy, it is recommended to defer at least 2 weeks. Post-procedural management: post-procedural ambulation is encouraged to reduce the thrombotic complications. Compression stocking should be applied for at least 7 days. Minor daily activity is not limited, but strenuous activities should be avoided for 2 weeks. It is suggested to take showers after 24 hours and tub baths, swimming, or soaking in water after 2 weeks.
Baths ; Catheter Ablation* ; Catheters ; Consensus* ; Heparin ; Knee Joint ; Lidocaine ; Saphenous Vein ; Sclerotherapy ; Skin ; Stockings, Compression ; Swimming ; Thrombosis ; Varicose Veins* ; Walking

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas is a rare tumor that affects young females with low malignant potential and good prognosis with more than 90% survival at 5 years. Metastasis is very rare. We report the case of a 74-year-old female who had pancreatic solid-pseudopapillary tumor and synchronous hepatic metastasis.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Prognosis